Anna Maria

Staging your home to make it sell fast

| bobyechasey

Every real estate agent knows the better a home shows, the quicker it will sell and for a better price. staginggraphic

It can be tough for many sellers to look at their home objectively, so my advice is always to listen to your agent.

How your home is staged and how it is photographed can be the difference between a quick sell and having it sit for months on the market.

Kim Six over at The Kim Six Fix has some really great tips on decluttering and staging that shows “before and afters” throughout her home.

You can check her blog post out here.

If you’re in the Manatee County area, on Anna Maria Island, or West Bradenton and thinking about listing your home, get in touch with me via e-mail at bobyechasey1@gmail.com or call me at 941-713-1277.

Tour Anna Maria Island, Island Arts and Culture, and the best places to dine!

| bobyechasey

 

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As a long-time resident of Anna Maria Island, it’s always fun to see how much regional, national, and international attention our gorgeous island receives.

I’ve compiled a few really neat links for you to check out to reminisce with or to get your acquainted with Anna Maria Island. Here are three cool links to check out:

1. Visit Florida produced a really fun video tour of Anna Maria Island a few years back. If you know and love the island and trolley, you’ll love it. If you just want to get a taste of what Anna Maria Island is like, you’ll find it really informative. You can find it on the front page of my website. http://bobyesellsannamariaisland.com/

2. Around this time last year NPR’s Destination Art series featured Anna Maria Island as an art and culture destination that is “off the beaten path.” http://www.npr.org/2012/08/29/158795354/anna-maria-island-fla-the-old-florida-feel

3. Whether you’re looking for a place to grab a bite, need to make a coffee run, or want a really special dining experience, TripAdvisor is a great place to go to find reviews on the best dining on Anna Maria Island. (My suggestions? The Sandbar, Duffy’s Tavern, and Beach Bistro.) http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurants-g635970-Anna_Maria_Island_Florida.html

 

Do you have any fun Anna Maria Island links to share? I’d love to see them!

– Bobye

bobye@bobyechasey.net

bobyesellsannamariaisland.com

(^Check out my redesigned website!!)

 

Pop, Boom! Fireworks on the Beach

| bobyechasey
Fireworks over the beach!

Anna Maria Island always does the 4th of July in a big way! Especially with the fireworks display over the Gulf and Bay by our friends at Mar Vista!

• June 29, Chamber of Commerce of Longboat Key, Lido Key, St. Armand Key Invitational Golf Tournament, Longboat Key Club Islandside, 301 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key. Fee applies. Information:  941-383-2466      .

• July 2, Fourth annual Boom Boom on the Bay at the Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant, 760 Broadway St., Longboat Key. Information: 941-383-2391

• July 3, 19th annual Fireworks Extravaganza, BeachHouse Restaurant, 200 Gulf Drive N., Bradenton Beach. Information: 941-779-2222

• July 4, 26th annual Sandbar Fireworks Spectacular, Sandbar Restaurant, 100 Spring Ave., Anna Maria. Information:  941-778-8709       

• July 4, Anna Maria Island Privateers, Fourth of July Parade, Coquina Beach, Bradenton Beach, to Bayfront Park, Anna Maria, and 2012 Scholarship Award Party, Anna Maria Island Beach Cafe, Manatee Public Beach, 4000 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach

What are your plans for this patriotic holiday???

Wall Street Journal: Maybe it’s time to buy that vacation home

| bobyechasey

Vacation homes: Why it might be time to buy


WASHINGTON – Aug. 2, 2011 – Home price declines remain the norm in many areas, but experts say certain luxury markets are picking up steam and attracting affluent vacation-home buyers.

The median second-home price fell 11 percent to $150,000 in 2010 from the prior year, according to the National Association of Realtors® (NAR). And the price dropped 25 percent since 2006, compared to a 22 percent decrease for the overall housing market.

Experts say sales activity depends on geography, with buyers more interested in prime vacation spots. However, financing remains a challenge since banks remain skittish about writing jumbo mortgages.

For many second-home buyers, though, the investment value is not a big concern. NAR says more than 80 percent of second-home buyers made their purchases to simply enjoy the home – not as an investment – with the number of all-cash deals up to 36 percent in 2010 from 29 percent in 2009, enabling buyers to forego a complex mortgage process.

Prices have stabilized or started to rise in Santa Monica, Calif.; Aspen, Colo.; the Hamptons, N.Y.; and Hilton Head, S.C. Meanwhile, Martha’s Vineyard, Mass.; Vail, Colo.; and Miami and Palm Beach remain depressed but offer some bargains.

Source: Wall Street Journal (07/23/11) Silver-Greenberg, Jessica

 

Call Bobye today to buy your dream vacation home today 941.713.1277

http://www.twitter.com/bobyechasey

 

Two Scoops: Ice Scream on the North End of Anna Maria

| bobyechasey

Took the trolley to the north end of the Island this past weekend and went to Two Scoops–at the shopping center on the corner of Pine Avenue (which is coming along nicely) and Bay Blvd. Always fun to have the grandkids out here, enjoying the island that I love so much. Here are some pictures for you to enjoy:

Two Scoops

 

What kid doesn't like ice cream?
Or candy...?
We always have a good time.

Don’t forget to check out my website: bobyechasey.net 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Day After 4th of July from Anna Maria Island!

| bobyechasey
Happy 4th!

I hope everyone had a safe and 4th of July weekend! The Island was bustling with families and sweet little ones excited about the ongoing fireworks displays put on by the Chiles Restaurant Group.

Tell me about your weekend!!!

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Link round-up from the Anna Maria Island Realtor: Coupons and more!

| bobyechasey

Hello! I have decided to start a new series of weekly link round-ups for fun links pertaining to Anna Maria Island. This week there are deals, beach gear, and information on where to fish off of Anna Maria Island.

Hope you enjoy the first day of summer! Hope it looks something like this:

Summer solstice

 

1. Awesome feature CBS Atlanta did on Anna Maria Island

http://www.cbsatlanta.com/video?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=5923414

 

2. Are you a fisherman? Where to go on Anna Maria Island

http://bradenton.patch.com/articles/capt-warren-girle-spills-fishing-hot-spots

 

3. 10 Home buying mistakes to avoid

http://www.trulia.com/guide/home_buying/getting_started/10_big_home_buying_mistakes/

 

4. Beach umbrellas under $15

http://www.acehardwaresuperstore.com/umbrellas-gazebos/17374.html

 

5. Want to rent bikes, kayaks, beach gear, and more on Anna Maria Island? Price list for BeachBums. Also: Get $5 off for week of a bike rental, usually $37. Use Promo code: 5BBAMI, **Limit 1 per family.

http://www.beachbumsami.com/list.html

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Anna Maria Island = Christmas Island–No Scrooges or Grinches Here!

| bobyechasey

Christmas is in just a couple days and I thought it would be appropriate to recap all the wonderful Christmas festivities that occurred here on our Island within the last few weeks.

Dec. 3 was the Holmes Beach Christmas Parade went southward down Marina Dr and ended at local businesses with an open house.

Dec. 4 was the lighted boat parade on Bimini Bay.

Dec. 10 merchants had an open house and kids could talk to Santa.

Dec. 11 Roser Memorial Church held a Bethlehem walk where people dressed up to reenact the biblical story of Jesus’ birth with live animals, too.

Dec. 11 was the annual Privateers Christmas Parade with lots of beads and coins

Islander Photos: Lisa Neff

and fun for all. Started on the southside of the island and went to the Seafood Shack.

 

On Dec. 11-12 was the Anna Maria Island Art League Winterfest: Festival of Fine Arts and Crafts at the Holmes Beach City Hall.

Dec. 14 was the 16th Annual Lawton Chiles Christmas for Kids at the Sandbar.

Islander Photos: Lisa Neff

Over 150 children participated with face painting and Christmas card making.

Dec. 18 in Bradenton Beach locals and visitors celebrated with Christmas on Bridge Street that included a snow machine so that the kiddos could see what it was like up north at Christmas.

Dec. 18 was the Cortez Yacht Club Lighted Boat Parade in the Bay.

So many great things to do at this time of year on the Island. It is a great place to spend the holidays with your loved ones!

Merry Christmas to all!

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